Tag Archive | "Publisher Ng’s blog"

While attending an event at a SeaTac hotel last week, I met two women who receive the $15/hour minimum wage. SeaTac has implemented the new law on Jan. 1. I met the women while they were working. One was a waitress and the other was cleaning the hallway. Read the full story

I love cooking oysters, but hate all the work involved. It becomes a family affair when I cook oysters. Hey, you want to eat? I tell my family, you have to contribute and do your share of the work. Read the full story

When the mayor finally was ready to announce the $15 recommendation, there was nothing to announce. Behind him, opposing sides of the issue held signs that announced their opinions clearly. (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)

Anxiety struck the Asian business community on April 24, when Mayor Ed Murray was supposed to announce his plan in the afternoon for the $15 minimum wage. Read the full story

The Wing Luke Asian Museum showcased a parade of impressive Asian Americans’ artwork at its annual dinner last Saturday at the Seattle Sheraton Hotel. More than 50 Asian Americans created some of their most amazing pieces for The Wing’s auction, which raised $400,000. Read the full story

I haven’t been able to resist going to Veggie Fest for the past eight years. I notice how full I am after every visit and how satisfying it is to bring samples home. The cereal samples will be handy when I travel overseas. It’s just hard to say ‘no’ to free food. Read the full story

Chinese culture has taught my family how to savor luck during the Lunar New Year. But the Year of the Horse has created mysterious circumstances, forcing me to break good-luck rules. Will I be OK this year, or I will I be even luckier? Read the full story

Recently, the World Economic Forum in Switzerland had a panel called “Health is Wealth.” I just want to tell you readers that I heard this phrase when I was a child. The Western world shouldn’t be credited with the origin. Read the full story

The two-hour show “The Bachelor” on ABC featuring the wedding of Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici was so scripted and controlled that I found it hard to keep my attention on it for the whole show. ABC stretched the 20-minute wedding into two hours by including lots of old clips. TiVo saved my day. I skipped the first part. Read the full story

Firefighters are very busy when a fire rages. (Photo by George Liu/NWAW)

“Fire, fire!” said my staff, rushing into the Asian Weekly’s office, on Dec. 24, 2013. The alarm of a fire engine became intolerably loud, and fire engines kept coming into Chinatown until all of South King Street was blocked. I dashed out, standing among the many onlookers, watching the fire destroying the Hudson Hotel’s rooftop across from our office. Read the full story

Past Bellevue Mayor Conrad Lee lost his mayoral bid on Jan. 6, although he wanted to have a second term. Bellevue Council member Claudia Balducci, director of King County Jail for Adult and Juvenile Detention, was elected mayor. Lee wasn’t even nominated to be a mayoral candidate. Balducci is the second female to be mayor of Bellevue. Read the full story

Next, a diverse group of Beacon Hill International School students performed a Chinese song called “Jasmine Flowers.” I don’t even know how to sing that song. These kids are fluent in Mandarin. They have studied Mandarin since they were in kindergarten. Then another Caucasian student told a story in Chinese. He didn’t have a script — he memorized the whole thing. What impressed me was that he wrote the story and designed the props himself. I completely understood all the words he spoke in Mandarin.

But that’s not the end of the story. A parent thanked me afterwards. She said the Asian Weekly wrote about Beacon Hill’s students’ Chinese program and that they needed to raise money to go to China to meet their Chinese pen pals. They have been writing to each other for a while. Last September, their Chinese friends from Chongqing visited them in Seattle. One reader responded and pledged to raise $5,000 for the group. Finally, the group raised enough money to go to China next year. Beacon Hill is now planning to raise funds for its second group to go to China.

When the Asian Weekly publishes stories, we never know what impact the paper will produce.

It’s important that people share with us how we have made a difference. That’s our reward.

Created by Ben Zhang, this project, which cost about $1.18 million, is to attract Chinese tourists and business investment opportunities. Zhang owns Greater China Industries.

Zhang plans to make 20 of these, he said. “I lived here since 1993. I would like to promote Seattle first. Following it, there will be Ninhao San Francisco, Ninhao Las Vegas, Ninhao Chicago, Ninhao Boston, and Ninhao New York.”

He predicts the program will make millions of dollars in profits. All will be donated to build a school in China for disadvantaged children. It’s a win-win for Seattle and the kids.

Goode’s voice is actually being dubbed in the program. In the meantime, Goode has worked with a University of Washington Chinese student to brush up on his Chinese.

Julianne Kumasaka is one of the founders of a senior activity program Kokoro Kai, part of Nikkei Concerns.

Most program founders eventually leave, but not Julianne. She has dedicated her time and energy to the program for 35 remarkable years. Her spirit of devotion, community, and loyalty speaks mountains about her compassion and personality. What a role model she is for the Asian community. Thank you, Julianne, for 35 years well done!

I was in Hong Kong recently, hoping to watch former Seattleite Martin Lau perform. But no, it was sold out. I couldn’t get in to see the show. I was disappointed, but happy for Lau, whom I met in Seattle when he was just a child.

Who’s Martin Lau?

Lau, 37, is now a hot commodity in Hong Kong Cantonese opera circles. He is one of the top-paid tai-pans and youngest master of the art. He doesn’t just lead operatic orchestras for a successful opera troupe, but is one of the most sought-after private instructors in Cantonese opera singing.

And his students are on the list of who’s who in Hong Kong.

I first met the Lau family when he emigrated with his parents at the age of 6. He left Seattle and went back to Hong Kong to see if there were opportunities.

What’s unique about Lau is that he’s the only master who has a college background. He studied English and science at the University of Washington.

Recently, the Luck Ngi Musical Club celebrated its 75th anniversary with an elaborate program of Cantonese opera at the Meydenbauer Center. Lau returned to lead the 10-man orchestra.

So thank you, Santa, for your gift of ideas. You are my inspiration for this blog. (end)

Congratulations to Sen. Ed Murray for winning the election as our next mayor of Seattle. You’ve made history by being the first openly gay mayor of Seattle, though you said on election night that you are not making history, you want to “make a difference.” Read the full story